Jim Rice inducted into the Hall of Fame

I appreciate MLB. And the MLB network because it was fun to watch yesterday afternoon. Especially as the Red Sox game was not so much fun to watch this afternoon. I got Jim Rice that have very very good job. Look pretty sharp that I was a little bright but he looked very sharp. Our Jim Rice is always bring all US island that's dressed as -- can I don't know where Ricky suit came from I don't mind it with the embroidery on it mullets gets. It was good it was.

A list of ultra reform -- Jim Rice his was you know it I think both both speeches were written. Ricky felt a little more comfortable lives in my mind at that Ricky. Freestyle a little more you know pots for the crowd reaction from warned Jim Wright was his it was a professional hobby is reading it use it and -- it. And he said it would need to today. And I think that come up with their personality that I knew Rick you would have a funny story or three and a bunch of rights would just they would need -- would happen.

It was fun to watch and it was. Oh I love the fact and I kind of body would anyway but I loved the fact that Jim Rice. Gave a shout out to Dick pressure on because it partly is Dick pressure yoni. Who was tireless in his efforts to get Jim writes elected the hall of fame and if not predict Brescia funny Jim Rice would not been standing on that stage -- drop.

Not and you know we talked about this a bit last night -- going back and forth with some of the guys on sports Sunday that you not Comcast sports net. And -- he was saying that he had a problem with. Jim Rice being in the Hall of Fame but as he talked more he really had a problem with the voting process you know he says why. That'd take fifteen years in 1995. Religion yet west got 199529%. Of the vote what changed well. That has nothing do with Jim Rice that. -- issue. Is with the voters now you sit down and you tell me Jim writes the hall of Famer. Okay that's that's one argument if you say he's not a hall of Famer despite what the voters say right. Then then that's regard but it's -- Why voters do certain things it's beyond me it's beyond a lot of us it is Don Sutton truly a hall of Famer. -- and all of fame with Don Sutton one of the great pitchers of all time. Voters -- so. They say Don Sutton was more effective than. Louis -- on the voters say that Nolan Ryan cannot be unanimous hall of Famer and neither could Rickey Henderson and neither could Joe DiMaggio. So that's a completely different argument.

Where where I could see some fluctuation in voting. Is depending on the competition. And I am okay with that. There was forget where I read it. Earlier this morning. Looking at the next 45 years you know who's eligible for the hall -- who's gonna get in you know who isn't. And and you get to that year you know where Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens and all these guys all the same time. Now there was a year it's like 2000 well. Where the the person who wrote it. Said nobody. Nobody in this class and well -- and I can see where. -- all of a sudden it Jim Rice is his ball goes up that year total goes up that year. Because -- and these other people again I'll vote for Jim Rice but I'm not vote for -- these other comedy more. Here's is Andre Dawson have on the ballot anybody know. I don't know that I think Andre Dawson if you're talking about a week year and that's coming up so 1012. Is the one that I remember seeing this morning where you look at. -- I can see. And they listed the people will be on the ballot that year and I don't think any and should she get all -- there's a guy miked. And we here. Now and I guess people have -- fourteen week years. I mean fourteen great years and then suddenly the fifteenth here was weak on the Jim Ed rice thing. That's different I mean as I said I could see for a year worries at all look at all these other guys who were going on and -- he doesn't stack up against them but that doesn't explain it Jim Rice.

I think what explain it to me there there're couple things Jim Rice. I think that really jump out one. Is that when your slugger you don't have 500 home runs people look at you. Strange as it. You know you're missing something. And so even if he had hung around for that 400 home run I think it would have been a -- Because he didn't have the 100 home runs required or or at least get to 450. Likes to stand the man stand the man of the cast 500. If a big stand usually has 478 or something like that but it's -- It's in get -- any did some other things size does dislike I think that is either make that up or. I looked at a awhile ago I let -- but but what with rice 398. Home runs at 298 average. And not an extremely long career. Not a twenty year career something like that I think those those things are.

I love the fact that he acknowledged yesterday that he doesn't have a lot of regrets but one of the regrets that he does have is those last few wood bats of that last year. It took his 300 career batting average down to ninety day -- I love the fact that he acknowledged that. You know that that he's willing to say that's my you know. Almost wished that he quit earlier than he did quit.

Yeah it'll -- part of this -- people and -- voters have to figure out. What what a hall of famers that I personally think they're too many voters. There to -- I think you should be an exclusive club just like the whole thing. This because your baseball writer covered baseball for X amount of years. Still should not guarantee you Hall of Fame vote I think there -- over you know some years that can be over 500 voters and and -- got a list should be cut down to a hundred.

And make them the elite ideally the leaked in Gammons. Voting. And not necessarily -- I caliber not necessarily name recognition right but you've got you know there'll be people who were who were exiting out and then and there are people who were going to be coming -- make your case. Yeah. 100 Hall of Fame voters which have 500 people voting on anything. I'm -- sports right and on any -- 500 people.

That's yeah that's why he had mistakes in the process.

Well and because we began with at least briefly here by talking about hall of fame and voting for the hall payment did you read the thing -- James wrote over the weekend I did not. Bill James has set for ten years now people have been asking him to comment on the issue of steroids and the hall thing and for the first time ever this weekend. -- yet it's a it's a an article. Called Cooperstown and the points. By Bill James and it's fascinating in short I mean Bill James pretty good at this stuff and basically. And and -- all bumper sticker for you because it will fall on the line with what we're talking about. He says. In his opinion. Now quote it is my opinion that in time the use of steroids or other performance enhancing drugs will mean virtually nothing. In the debate about who gets into the hall of fame and who does not dream on bill. He thinks they're not that we're gonna get to any makes his argument I'm I'm bumper --

I'm sure I'm sure it makes his argument I'm sure it's interesting to read and I will read it now before the show is out but. I don't think that's gonna happen. For -- like they have such there's such a stigma. Attached to pads. Any type of -- in sports. That is going to be generations. Before we say -- that's no big deal. That's just par for the course odds -- I don't see that happening and these hall of famers the reason it won't happen for the hall of famers have have -- And in the hall of famers a lot of them were interviewed over the weekend I don't know he thought from the step -- Jim -- of one of them who said. I don't care that Barry Bonds was a hall of Famer ball for. He took performance enhancing drugs I don't care about -- EIN led the fact is that if you do if you get caught that's it you're not a hall of Famer. So there are a lot of guys who feel that way and there are other guys -- who were on the offensive bit you never know and in this is a tough thing. -- end Ozzie Smith said you know put an asterisk. Next to the guys and say this -- these numbers were put up during the steroid era but I think the common sense approach for a lot of people. As a derisive. He caught. Using using performance enhancing drug problem that want to.

Well it and the point at -- and I'll I'll I'll amplify bill james' point to this degree he said at some point or another. Barry Bonds Roger -- A-Rod Manny Ramirez Mark McGwire Sammy Sosa and those were the ones who we know have used performance enhancing drugs. He said at some point one of those guys gonna get in all. And at the point you let one yen. You can't keep the others out and let's say let's say bonds for the sake of our argument the minute bonds gets -- That your your your almost by default gonna have to let Roger Clements in or A-Rod -- Manny Ramirez again.

That's about it that's about it but I don't see a connection. Between. Dave Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa. Barry Bonds -- Mark McGwire. Bonds was -- even when they were all cheating decisive say they're all cheaters. And and in the alt cheated. Barry Bonds is the better cheater. Than Sammy Sosa. Have more to his game Barry Bonds is a better cheater than Mark McGwire. Barry Bonds is a better cheater then. Raphael Palmeiro. So. I can say I think the people on -- this level are. Clemens. And -- and even and -- and and and A-Rod. If -- really got to be controversial extremely difficult to keep them out. The best hitter our generation bonds. And the best victory generation. Roger Clemens right.

It was fun to watch it was. We were just talking earlier today but the people in sports who make your heart skip a beat you know. I'll never forget the feeling at the first time Bill Russell walked into the room the first I'm Williams walked in the room as I was watching yesterday. When I saw cynical facts at one knows you know you never see. I mean you'd forget about it here -- you -- agencies aches. Looks great. You know he looks he he's aged very great and only. And it and I -- one of those moments when they and I actually I saw and reproducing what was it was a joke was beside him. And and reproducing -- and you could see cope backs up to the side and then they introduced him next. To me it's just so cool to see I like it right.

You're right he's got he's actually become. A mystical figure. Since sees it these retired -- retired earlier -- knows that when nine I think that the Dodgers. And an I was. Mildly surprised. When he had a book you know book came out. Been five or six years ago at this point. Earnings gain. The book you know. I don't remember yeah but again I was I was surprised that he gave her a lot of access and really. Opened up a bit. Because that was not that that was not necessarily. -- his MO in retirement. -- you yet it is.

You don't see it forget about Jane Levys than author it and the proper you know forget about hearing problem and you don't hear. In every disease face and in May be more of these hall fame induction that I think he has I don't watch all of on the way I've really wanted to see. Yesterday isn't. So was different for me I'll admit that it was different you know like I probably will watch the game it was it was a good game left with it was other players. If Jim Rice wasn't part of the proceedings yesterday -- probably would watch in the game instead.

But I was happy I was happy to see him -- and even. If it was that last year of eligibility. Still. It marks it matter you know -- when it and what matters is an accurate in your and that exclusive club and I conceded you know -- everybody. Who has been elected to the hall of fame and we've seen a couple of them recently with England ties Jim Rice yesterday last year. Andre Tippett those guys -- and and they just tell incredible stories about what it's like. Deceit people who were only accessible to them really through. Legendary stories and articles and documentaries never thought. You'll be standing there side by side shoulder to shoulder but your plaque would be up where their plaque is so. I'm short the very humbling experience and does something probably one of the great -- life. On probably top five top three.

And ain't seen the pride that Stanley had sitting there aren't and how proud they were right. I was happy that the Red Sox were represented. Larry Lucchino and John Henry and Tom roller is great it was Brothers column that -- yet. He didn't become gym until we got to the minor leagues -- to some people rice to others poppy crop.

And now he is Jim writes all the family and no he doesn't call that threat is because in the -- call it off. Right about Ricky was great I love here Rick hall to about it at the story we use in the open about Reggie Jackson. He's the way outside it I don't I really resonates or registration. Okay here here's the -- into it and if my name is already written him -- the paper my name Marty. Yeah when -- check out again eleven.

I stand out on the ballpark. And in the parking lot. Waiting for Reggie Jackson did you -- autograph. Reggie you -- all the time. And I say Reggie. Can I have a lot of group. He would pass -- opinions what is name Monique. We never gave me autograph.

That's great stuff he will allow your hall of Famer. I mean he's he's one of those you know how could you even not exactly foreign all famers.